Nursing as a Sustainability Factor of the Health System during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Earlier this year, Spain took center stage in the emerging health crisis due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. On 14 March 2020, a state of alarm was declared to manage this health crisis. The contribution of nursing professionals to sustainability of the system during this health crisis has been vital, not only in specialized care but, in a more understated way, in primary care. The objective of the present study was to describe the perceptions and lived experiences of primary care nurses during the COVID-19 health emergency. A qualitative study taking a phenomenological approach was carried out, triangulating data collected through non-participant observations, eight in-depth interviews, and two discussion groups with community nurses and case managers. A total sample of 20 key informants was obtained during the month of May, 2020. The key informants expressed strong positive perceptions of the recognition received from service users and satisfaction when acknowledging that they have been an important source of emotional support. Informants identify the importance of their work in sustaining the system, particularly outlining team cohesion and communication, whilst also evaluating the empowering position in which service users and society itself has put them.

Influence of Palliative Care Training on Nurses’ Attitudes towards End-of-Life Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

“…To avoid this bias, we used recruitment strategies through natural leaders by means of a snowball technique through social media where the target was nursing professionals, highlighting these participants who adequately represented all the strata of the population under study. These same circumstances have been evidenced in similar studies [8,31]. On the other hand, the possibility of non-response due to the self-selection and exclusion of subjects without access to the Internet is currently a problem diminished by the current digital progress and reinforced by the increase in the use of technology in the nursing community.…”

“…This must be kept in mind with how Spain is still the leading country in terms of infection rates and how nursing has acquired the role of a retaining wall in the health system [31].…”

Current Stereotypes Associated with Nursing and Nursing Professionals: An Integrative Review

“…López-Verdugo and colleagues [17] found that this discriminatory vision of the nursing profession derived primarily from the portrayal of the profession in the media, social media, and social information [15]. The value of nursing in society has risen as a result of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic [62,63], but this has not been reflected in nurses' pay nor in the real value or recognition of their professional activity [64].…”

The Importance of Monitoring the Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health of Nursing Staff for Sustainable Management

“…The findings reflect the need for nursing management and policymakers to develop measures and strategies to ensure appropriate staffing, effective organization, and a supportive work environment [11]. Nurses presented a high degree of satisfaction in the performance of their functions during the pandemic [53].…”